by Bill Poehler -
Sunset Speedway Park - Banks, Oregon
Saturday June 14, 2008
Everything is falling into place for Eric Sayre.
The driver from Vancouver, Wash., assumed the lead with 14 laps to go Saturday night when Greg Walters' car went dead and won Saturday night's 50-lap Rose Festival Dirt Cup at Banks' Sunset Speedway Park.
Sayre also took over the Coors Light Late Model points lead with 301, three better than Jerry Schram and 11 more than Walters.
Sayre, who set second-fast time, also won the trophy dash and finished second in his heat race.
The day, however, was not as kind to Walters.
While getting his car ready for the night's proceedings at his shop in Banks, the crate engine gave out. Walters' father, Doug, made a few calls and found an engine ready to go at West Pontiac in Gresham, more than a half hour away. Doug made the trip and picked up the engine, Walters made his way on to the track for a couple of hot laps just after the trophy dashes.
Scott Puncochar of Hillsboro, winner a week before, set fast time with a lap of 14.091 around the 1/4-mile clay oval with Sayre second fast at 14.162, Kevin Rogers third fast in 14.186 and Billy Workman fourth at 14.188.
In the slow heat race, Jesse Freeman led all eight laps to win in front of Schram, Jeff Biffle, Malcolm Lindberg and Jason Johnson.
In the fast heat race, outside pole sitter Jimmy Schram took the lead on the first lap and led all eight circuits with Sayre coming from the seventh starting position to pressure Schram in the final laps for the lead before settling for second. Branden Lindberg finished third with Scott Puncochar in fourth, Brookshire, and Jeremy Schram followed by Workman and Rogers.
In the trophy dash, pole sitting Workman took the initial lead on the first lap, but Sayre took the lead on the backstretch of the next lap and went on to win.
In the main event, Biffle went from his third starting spot into the lead on the first lap and looked stout early, but Jimmy Schram and Branden Lindberg quickly made their way forward and fell in line behind Biffle.
Walters, who started last in the field, worked his way forward to sixth on the fifth lap and fourth four laps later.
Biffle looked as if he might be able to pull off the upset, but while lapping the car of Malcolm Lindberg was hit and pulled into the infield, eventually ending his night and giving the lead over to Walters, and Jimmy Schram was passed up by Sayre for second.
Sayre passed Walters for the lead on lap 28, but the caution flew and Sayre was put back to second. Sayre followed Walters closely the following laps, but Walters, whose new engine was missing badly, gave up the lead on lap 36 when his engine gave up and he came to a rest trying to reach the pits.
Sayre checked out in the final 14 laps to gain his first victory of the season and win the fifth annual Rose Festival Dirt Cup. Jimmy Schram came home in second with Branden Lindberg finishing third. Jeremy Schram finished fourth with Jerry Schram in fifth. Workman finished sixth, Potter was seventh with Rogers in eighth and Jason Johnson in ninth, the last car on the lead lap.
The Coors Light Late Models take next week off, but return to Sunset June 28 for the Miles for Molly night. They return again July 5 with a 150 lapper.

Coors Light Crate Late Models Race Results:
Saturday June 14th, 2008
Rose Festival night at Sunset Speedway Park - Banks, Oregon
Fast Time: Scott Puncochar 14:091.
Heat 1: Freeman, Jerry Schram, Biffle, M. Lindberg, Johnson, Walters DNS.
Heat 2: Jimmy Schram, Sayre, B. Lindberg, Puncochar, Brookshire, Jeremy Schram, Workman, Rodgers.
Dash: Sayre, Workman, Puncochar, Rodgers.
Main Event: 50-laps: 1st. Eric Sayre #53, 2nd. Jimmy Schram #22s, 3rd. Branden Lindberg #88, 4th. Jeremy Schram #26, 5th. Jerry Schram #16, 6th. Billy "The Kid" Workman jr #64jr, 7th. Jeff Brookshire #77, 8th. Kevin "Pork chop" Rogers #92, 9th. Jason Johnson #76, 10th. Malcolm Lindberg #8 DNF, 11th. Jesse Freeman #5, 12th. Greg Walters #97 DNF, 13th. Jeff Biffle #60 DNF, 14th. Scott Puncochar DNF
Hard Charger Award: Eric Sayre